Barcelona have beaten Paris St-Germain to the signing from West Bromwich Albion of one of England’s brightest talents in the 16-year-old striker Louie Barry.
Barry reportedly had a medical with PSG before Barcelona stepped in at the last minute and convinced him to join the ranks at La Masia, the club’s famed academy.
Barry, who turned 16 last month, signed a three-year deal with Barcelona until 2022 and will play for their Under-19 team while West Brom will receive £235,000 as compensation.
“[Barry] is an international with the English Under-16 team, for whom he has played nine games and scored seven goals,” Barcelona said in a statement. “Next season he will be part of Barca’s Under-19 squad.”
Barry joins the growing number of English youngsters who have moved to foreign clubs, such as Borussia Dortmund’s 19-year-old winger Jadon Sancho, who came of age last season with 13 goals and 19 assists in all competitions.
